Fireproof building construction.



G. COLLINS.

FIREPROOF B E[ILDING CONSTRUCTION. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25 1111 1.

1,027,641, Patented May 28, 1912.

perspective view of the adaptation of my T 0 all whQm tint/(1y concern i PAiENT -.OFFICE.

"coRNsLi' s coLLnisfor nunLmeaivrn-cAmronme.

' Be it known that. .I, QouNELiUsCOLLINS, citizen of the llnited States;residing at. Burlingame, in the county of San Mateo and State of Califm'nia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fireproof Building Construction, of which the following is a specification.

lhis invention relates to interlocking structures and partici' larly to interlocking devices for sheet metal work.

The ObJQCtof thls invention is to provide a simple, rigid, reliable mterlockmg or in- 'terlinking device for sheet metal or other Work; to provide an interlocking structure whereby the elements comprising the same may be prepared at small expense for interlocking at the factory, shipped to the place of erection and there assembled with a minimum amount of labor; and to provide an interlocking device, which, when once assembled, is extraordinarily strong; and not liable to be quickly (lisplaced, is of such design as to be readily susceptible of various adjustments and is adaptable to a variety of applications.

The invention consists of the .parts and the constructionand combination of parts. as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having referenceto the accompanying drawings, in. which 7 Figure 1 is a perspective view of a form of the interlocking structure. Fig. 2 shows the interlocking device as applied to a channel iron work, forming studdi'ng. Fig. 3 shows an adaptationbf the interlocking de vice for furring. l igzxe is a fin-ther adaptation of the interlocking structure as a. reinforeing means for thin walls; or partitions. Fig, 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the method of assembling and expanding one of the interlocking elements. Fig. 6 isa improved metlualfot fastening, showing a reii'iforcing bar or fence post provided with a dovetailed slot. 4

The function of the present invention is to evolve and provide a method .and device for permitting the rapid and inexpensive erection 'of' sheet metal structures and other forms wherein the several elements are to be securely interlocked 0r interlaced against relative movement, and particularly 3' Specification of Letters-Patent.

strips 6.

FIREPROOF- B ILDING CONSTRUCTION;

to permit the erection of structures at aminimum expenditure of energy, thus conserving labor and cost.

The interlocking method and device comprehended in'tlie present invention includes the formation in structures or elements to be interlocked of suitably shaped slots or openings which may be formed Within thearea of the body of the elements, or may be formed at desirable spaces along its edges.

, As shown in the several figures otthe drawings, a method and device for securing the substantially rigid and easily manipulated interlocking of several elements is appliedv in various adaptations.

In Fig. 1, 2 represents a tlat'strip of material which may be of any substance, but which in the present invention represents 7 "Patented May28,1912. cbntinuaa noie ueaa seri rN 59t5, 0i60,:fi:1ed' December 7, 1910. This application filed March 25,

' a, "Q1311? Serial No. 616,830. I

metal, and this strip or sheet Qhcr e represents vertical studs, such as are used in the erection of buildings. The edges of this strip of material on studare provided at various spacesv with slots or elongated nicks 3 having their mouth portions of less width than their bo t ton1s.- That is to say, the distance'between the outer points 4 of the slot or nick less than the length of the line formed by the bottomfi of the slots.

I do not wish to ,be limited to the form, contour or outline in plan of the slots,the object and aim of the differential,longitudinal lengths-ofthe slot openings being" to insure the retention inthe slots of such ele ments or pieces as' the concave convex members 6, whichin Fig. .1, represent lathing appliedto thevertical studs 2. I

In thc adaptation of the device as illustrated in Fig. l, laths are horizontally spaced from each other a, sufiicientdistance to prevenhspitces I preferably of such Width astoform retaining keys on plaster when the latter is applied 'to the exteriors irface of the lathing are, conca vo convex,

longitudinally against the several vertical studs 2 and 0ne-of their edges assed into the slot 3, so as to permit the lath or meniber- (Sto be ivotally'swung into the slot 3 f its edges restingagainst the with one/go v shoulder of th'eslot-3 as alfulcrum; The

The members 6, which, as stated, or longitudinally and centrally hipped, are adapted to be placed 7 between their edges,

' the bottomfi of the slot 3. \Vheu one of the members 6 has thus been placed in position against-the studding 2, it is then subjected to a blow on its raised back or hip portion by a hammer with suflicient force to transversely expand the member (3, so that its longitudinal edges adjacent to the point of the blowand which rest against the bottomof the slot 3 are projected transversely into binding and interlocking engagement with the shoulders formed at the transverse ends of the slot 3. When it is desired tobrace or reinforce the vertical stud members'Q transversely, the concavo convex or longitudinally curved tie or brace, as 7, may be inserted into a central opening 8, the transverse ends of which are of greater length than the transverse width of the remaining portion of.the opening 8. Likewise, when the reinforcingor bracing member 7' has beeninserted into the opening 8 and moved into position against its undercut shoulders or ends, the brace 7' may be expanded at a point adjacent to. the studding by the application of force with a hammer or other suitable tool.

In Fig. 2 I have shown an adaptation of the method of securely interlocking a set of vertical members 10, here shown as channel irons, having their flanges 11 notched or slotted similarly to the member 2 of Fig. 1; and into the notches of the channel irons 10 there is inserted a tie 12 which may or may not be provided with nicks 13 along its edge, so spaced as to intermesh with the shoulders formed at the bottom of the slot 3. The tie 12 may be bent throughout its length so as to be angular in cross section, as indicated by the lath member 6, Fig. 1, or may be concavo convex, as is clearly shown in Fig. 2. When the tie 12 has been swung into position against the bottom of the slots in theflanges of the members 10, the tie is expanded adjacent to its inter-engaging point-s by a blow from a hammer, thus permanently locking the members.

In Fig. 3 the method and device forming an interlock is shown as applied to vertical furring members 16, which are provided with slots 3, undercut at their ends to form shoulders; the distance between the outer ends of the shoulders being less than the length of the bottom of the slot. 7 In modern architectural construction a great amount of what is known as expanded metal lath is used and when this lath is applied to studding in a building, the laborer attaches the lath to the building by passing a wire, such, for instance, as is indicated at 15, around the studding and then twisting the wire so as to draw the metal lath closely against the surface of the studding. My

method of interlocking members is particularly adaptable in the use of studding represented at 16, in Fig. 3, and I obtain a sufiicient space between the back edges of the studding 1G and the wall of the building, as indicated at 17, by employing spacing n1e1n bers 18, which are bent angularly throughout their length, and the degree of the angular bcnd of the longitudinal edges toward each other determines the distance that the furring 16 is projected away from the wall 17, when the members 18 are inserted and interlocked with the rear edges of the furring 16. i

In Fig. 4 my interlocking device is employed to substantially connect together vertical reinforcing rods 19 which may be provided with slots, as 3, in their edges, into which slots are inserted transverse reinforcing strips 20 expanded in the slots 3, so as to positively interlace the several vertical members 19. YVhen this form of interlocked reinforcing is employed, a rigid and substantial structure results and the finishing plaster may be applied in a thickness considerably less than is the usual practice. As stated, the actual width transversely/of the concavo convex members hereinbefore referred to is preferably just sufficient to permit them to swing freely into transverse position against the bottom 5 of the slots 3 in the members;which are to be interlocked. This is shown in Fig. 5 at a. When the hipped or concaved members have been swung into position, a blow froma hammer will transversely expand the members to the osition clearly indicated at b i ig. 4, w ich so increases the transverse width of the concaved or hipped members as to cause them to rigidly bind against the shoulders at the ends of the slots 3.

In the form of my invention illustrated in Fig. 1 the upper and lower ends of the studding members 2 may be readily and securely attached in position to the structural portion of the building by inserting top and bottom members in the transverse slots 3 at the ends of the studding 2, then expanding the top and bottom members to interlock with the studs 2 after which the nails may be driven to positively prevent end movement of the studs 2. As stated, my method of interlock is adapted to innumerable structures and in Fig. 6 is shown a bar 25, which may represent reinforcement or fence post, having undercut recesses 3 into which may be expanded the expansible transverse members, as 6 or 7..

By the word dovetail in the claims, I refer to any undercut form of 'slot which will have the property and function of forming an interlock when a hipped or convexed strip is expanded into. it, within the principle of the invention.

This application is in continuation of,-

tion, Serial Number 596,060, filed December Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent isv 1. structural interlock, comprising a metal strip provided with a slot, the-bottom of which slot is wider than its mouth, and .21 longitudinally hipped, bendable strip having a width sufiicient to pass through the smaller portion of the slot and to rest upon the bottom of the slot, and adapted to be expanded transversely in the plane of the bottom of the slot-s0 as to bind against the side walls ofthe slot.

Copies of this patentlmay bebbtaincd tor 2. interlocking structure, comprising a member having a perforation substantially in the outline of the letter I, and an interlocking strip having anendwise extending hump insertible' into the perforation and adapted to have its lateral edges engaged with the lateral recessi'onsin the I perfora-- tion when the interlocking strip is flattened.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. v I

CQRN ELIUS oo LiNs. Witnesses I FRANCIS E. PELTZ, F. E. MAYNARD.

five cents each, by addressing the '"Commissioner' of Patents, Washingtoml). Q. 4 

